Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Screening A Library Of Chalcone Derivatives For Antibacterial Properties Via Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion, Breena Z. Frazier

Undergraduate Theses

As antibiotic resistance emerges stronger than ever, novel antimicrobial compounds are necessary to continue the infectious fight against disease and prevent millions of deaths by multidrug-resistant bacteria. One compound thought to be a natural source of antimicrobial activity is the chalcone. Abundant in fruits and vegetables, chalcones are versatile compounds that are easily synthesized via Claisen-Schmidt condensation and have demonstrated a wide-range of biological activity. Previous studies have found that the addition of a free hydroxyl group to either the A or B ring of the chalcone skeleton may contribute to mild to moderate antimicrobial activity. Halogen substituents, such as …

A Study Of Addiction: The Opioid Epidemic, An Analysis At The State And County Level, Jamey Van Dyke

Undergraduate Theses

Addictive diseases such as those stemming from the use of alcohol, cocaine and opioids lead to serious negative consequences at both the individual and societal level. Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in opioid prescriptions and addiction. The potential for addiction is related to factors that include genetics, prescriber behavior, user behavior and characteristics, in addition to environmental and systemic determinants. One measure of the seriousness of the opioid epidemic is the number of overdose deaths. In 2017, drug overdoses killed over seventy thousand Americans, and overdose deaths are projected to increase in the future. …

Neuroligin-1 Is Altered In The Hippocampus Of Alzheimer's Disease Patients And Mouse Models, And Modulates The Toxicity Of Amyloid-Beta Oligomers, Julien Dufort-Gervais, Chloé Provost, Laurence Charbonneau, Christopher M. Norris, Frédéric Calon, Valérie Mongrain, Jonathan Brouillette

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Synapse loss occurs early and correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Synaptotoxicity is driven, at least in part, by amyloid-beta oligomers (Aβo), but the exact synaptic components targeted by Aβo remain to be identified. We here tested the hypotheses that the post-synaptic protein Neuroligin-1 (NLGN1) is affected early in the process of neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, and specifically by Aβo, and that it can modulate Aβo toxicity. We found that hippocampal NLGN1 was decreased in patients with AD in comparison to patients with mild cognitive impairment and control subjects. Female 3xTg-AD mice also showed a decreased NLGN1 level …

2020-04-24 Daily Unm Global Health Covid-19 Briefing, Christophe G. Lambert, Shawn Stoicu, Lori D. Sloane, Anastasiya Nestsiarovich, Praveen Kumar, Nicolas Lauve, Ariel Hurwitz, Alexandra Yingling, Perez Olewe, Shahad Hersi, Susie Pham, Ryen Ormesher, Rohini Mckee, Gregory J. Mertz, Cristian Bologa, Kristine Tollestrup, Orrin Myers, Douglas J. Perkins

HSC Covid 19 Briefings

Executive Summary:

NYT praises NM. NM Governor update. NM cases. NM antibody tests. State hiring freeze. Navajo Nation sues. Navajo Nation CA doctors. Mental health funding. Balloon Fiesta proceeding. Trump Lysol remarks. $484B business relief. 50k US deaths. US no to WHO initiatives. US crime reductions. Moscow 10% infections. Quebec elderly deaths. Italy psychiatric sequelae. Global vaccines summit. French nicotine sales restrictions. Adaptive cyclic exit strategies. Mask reuse techniques. Mask steaming method. Legionnaire’s reopening risks. Youth mental health. US disease models. Covid phobia treatment avoidance. Nursing home testing. Home nursing demand. CDC home cleaning. Guidelines on: convalescent plasma transfusion, H2O2 …

Safety And Feasibility Of Bilateral Lower Extremity Cold-Compression Therapy For Older Adults, Savannah Trussell

Undergraduate Theses

Older adults often suffer from diseases that cause chronic pain and swelling that have been treated using a variety of modalities, including cold therapy, compression garments, and analgesics. Cold-compression has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation after exercise in young, healthy adults (Dupont et al., 2017). This therapy also may relieve pain and inflammation from older adults, especially those suffering from chronic conditions.

To determine if cold-compression is a safe modality for older adults, both older (65 +) and young (18-30) adults were recruited for a 15-minute bilateral lower extremity therapy session. Outcome measures include blood pressure, ankle brachial …

Mental Health In The School System: Providing Tools And Resources For Teachers, Hannah Skinner

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone project's aim was to look at the mental health needs of school aged children, and how Occupational Therapists can help to meet their needs in the school system. The doctoral student completed a background on mental health statistics and needs in children, and also completed a literature review on occupational therapy’s role in mental health and schools, mindfulness, and current practices in the United States.

A gap was identified after a literature search was completed: While the school systems understand mental health is an area that should be addressed, there is a gap in providing these tools and …

Covid-19 And Inequity: A Comparative Spatial Analysis Of New York City And Chicago Hot Spots, Andrew Maroko, Denis Nash, Brian Pavilonis

Publications and Research

There have been numerous reports that the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic has disproportionately impacted traditionally vulnerable communities, including well-researched social determinants of health, such as racial and ethnic minorities, migrants, and the economically challenged. The goal of this ecological cross-sectional study is to examine the demographic and economic nature of spatial hot and cold spots of SARS-CoV-2 rates in New York City and Chicago as of April 13, 2020.

In both cities, cold spots (clusters of low SARS-CoV-2 rate ZIP code tabulation areas) demonstrated typical protective factors associated with the social determinants of health and the ability to …

Acuity-Based Staffing: Improving Patient Outcomes And Staff Satisfaction, Natalie Long

MSN Capstone Projects

Traditionally, nurse staffing practices have been based on a nurse-patient ratio model and have not incorporated patient acuity. More recent literature has shown that acuity-based staffing can improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. The Emergency Department (ED) is an area that has fluctuating patient acuity and volume. To incorporate acuity in to staffing in the ED, the acuity mix over the past year can be used to calculate required nursing hours, therefore providing the number of required nurses for that facility. The calculated number of staff can then be distributed over a 24 hour period. By incorporating acuity in to …

Mitigating Burnout In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Katelyn O. Mcgaughy

MSN Capstone Projects

Burnout is defined as a “prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job leading to a combination of physical and emotional exhaustion” (Lachman, 2016). The effects of burnout syndrome among nurses are well documented in the literature. Burnout is associated with an increased incidence of a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, including weight loss or gain, lethargy, headaches, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating (Lachman, 2016). As a result of these symptoms, nurses experiencing burnout are more prone to provide poorer quality care to patients and are at heightened risk of commission of errors in …

Continuous Glucose Monitors To Decrease Hypoglycemia, Sara B. Woodcock

MSN Capstone Projects

Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people from children to older adults. There is no cure, although it can be managed to prevent complications. Education of student nurses is where they are born and raised to become nurses who save and change lives. Teaching student nurses in depth about diabetes as a disease and the treatments that best fit their specific needs is where educating patients begins. Learning about a secondary option for blood glucose checks can make all the difference for several patients. Multiple finger sticks daily has been the leading way to check blood sugar for …

Qt Monitoring In The Icu: A Benchmark Project, Jeffrey S. Woodward

MSN Capstone Projects

In adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, does QT/QTc monitoring compared to no QT/QTc monitoring affect mortality or ventricular tachyarrhythmia rates during their ICU stay? Not monitoring changes in the QT interval can lead to poor outcomes since mortality rates are higher in patients with arrhythmias (Uvelin, Pejakovic, & Mijatovic, 2017). Approximately 300,000 sudden cardiac deaths occur in the United States each year with an estimated 15,000 because of a lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmia rhythm called Torsades de Pointes (TdP) that occurs when a QT interval is prolonged (Dave, Bessette, & Setnik, 2017). Some risk factors for developing prolonged QT intervals …

Leadership Roles In The Field Of Occupational Therapy, Christina Pitts

Student Capstone Papers

The idea of this capstone project was to learn about leadership through expertise and experience. The first portion of the project consisted of reviewing the literature and interviewing four occupational therapists that currently have a leadership role within the healthcare industry to gain insight into leadership qualities. The second potion included being at a facility (Advent Therapy in Richmond Hill, G.A.) for 14 weeks to observe and learn about current programs, and with the guidance of the therapists and management of the facility, develop and implement a program that was deemed to be beneficial to the client population.

Cardiovascular Recovery From Emotional Stress: An Operationalization Of Equanamity Following Mindfulness-Based Emotional Stress, Emma Mcbride

Theses and Dissertations

Theoretical models of mindfulness suggest that meditation may improve health, in part, by regulating stress physiology, including faster recovery of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (SBP/DBP) after emotional stress. Furthermore, improved cardiovascular recovery (CR) may be a marker of equanimity, defined as increased acceptance of and reduced reactivity to stress. No studies have tested this hypothesis, partly because methodology for assessing CR remains controversial. Using a novel operationalization of equanimity and several methods of measuring CR, this project investigated whether (1) equanimity is associated with improved CR, (2) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is associated with improved CR, and (3) …

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern University names Stuart Tedders as dean of Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

The Effects Of Involvement In Religious Practices On Recovering Substance Users., Taylor Currier

Honors Theses

This paper reviews empirical studies focused on spirituality and its effects on those in the recovery process from substance abuse. This paper will look at qualitative studies as well as quantitative research to see which form has derived the best results on how spirituality has affected substance abuse recovery. Prolonged recovery is the goal for those that struggle with substance use. Behavior change is an important in sustaining sobriety with those dealing with addiction. It is predicted that those who engage in spiritual growth within their community have a higher likelihood of prolonged recovery than those that do not believe …

Occupational Therapy Student Pro Bono Clinic: Creating A Sustainable Model, Shane Tong

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a model for a sustainable student pro bono clinic with a clear mission and vision that aligned with that of the occupational therapy (OT) profession. This project consisted of interviewing founding members of similar programs, conducting an indirect needs assessment, and performing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of current pro bono clinic operations at the University of St. Augustine College for Health Sciences (USAHS). These results, combined with input from key stakeholders, were used to develop a strategic plan to support the development of future pro bono clinics by …

Inclusion In Religion And Spirituality For Children With Special Needs, Mackinzie C. Weiss

Student Capstone Papers

The proposed vision of this capstone project will focus on using occupational therapy interventions to help a local church be more inclusive to children and families with special needs. This capstone project will partner with a pre-existing special needs program to develop evidence based volunteer training, implement a parent respite program, and introduce a movement based program.

Exploring The Concurrent Validity Of The Indoor Mobility Pre-Driving Screen (Imps): A Comparison Of The Imps And Ef-Car Motion Driving Simulator., Nicholas T. Bolen

Student Capstone Papers

This paper details the results of a non-experimental assessment comparison study of concurrent validity in which the Indoor Mobility Pre-driving Screen (IMPS) is compared to an EF-Car Motion Driving Simulator. 36 participants completed both assessments concurrently. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's r correlations. Results show low to moderate correlations between the compared assessments.

Orthopedic Injuries In Athletes, Cameron Adams

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

When thinking of athletes and orthopedic injuries, we often associate these injuries with more physical sports such as football, basketball, or even soccer. What we don’t realize is that an injury of any degree can occur in any sport, regardless of the level of physicality. An orthopedic injury is any injury to the bones, muscles, or joints of the musculoskeletal system. These injuries include, but are not limited to, ACL tears, meniscus tears, broken bones, muscle tears, sprains, dislocations, or fractures, obtained during a sport. Most injuries of this nature are hard to ignore, but depending on the area and …

Shoulder And Elbow Injury Prevention In Baseball Pitchers, Taylor Charlton

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Shoulder and elbow injuries are extremely common in baseball pitchers due to overuse and extreme stress. To assess the risk factors for these injuries, adolescents were chosen to complete testing on strength and range of motion. Many pitchers do not pay attention to the risk of injury while playing, but the longer they pitch without prevention programs, the higher their risks for future injury. The literature finds that posterior shoulder weakness and rotator cuff weakness are the leading causes of injury in adolescent pitchers. Athletic trainers, coaches, and/or parents have the ability to take athletes through prevention programs with the …

Dialysis Access Steals And Leads To Limb Ischemia, Supraja Thunuguntla, Mohammed Rizwan, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

School of Medicine Publications

Dialysis Access Associated Steal Syndrome (DASS) reported incidence is low, (6.2%) [1]. Symptoms are dialysis induced hand pain, coldness, numbness, sensory loss which can lead to inevitable digital gangrene and amputation if the diagnosis is delayed. Duplex arterial ultrasound and electromyography (EMG) can help differentiate DASS from Ischemic monomelic neuropathy (IMN), a variation of DASS. Treatment options are individualized based on the location of the AV fistula, severity of presentation, presence of anatomical anomalies of involved vasculature. Comprehensive review of literature demonstrates this outcome of finger gangrene in young patients with ESRD is primarily associated with preexisting diffuse vascular disease …

An Investigation Of The Relationships Between Mentorship In Clinical Education And Boc Exam Success, Sabrina F. Maginnis Ed.D., Brandy P. Clemmer Ed.D.

Journal of Applied Social Science Research and Practice

This study used an explanatory mixed-method design to investigate the relationships between preceptor mentorship in clinical education and success on the Board of Certification (BOC) exam for athletic trainers. The Athletic Training Preceptor Mentoring Traits Survey (ATPMTS) was developed by the researchers via a Delphi method following review of mentoring literature from nursing, athletic training, and academic medicine. Three hundred four athletic training students completed the survey during the last year of their training and before the BOC exam. Preceptor ratings were compared for students who passed the BOC on the first attempt (n =241) and students who did not …

Examining Zika Virus: Transmission, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention, Noura Taybeh

BU Well

The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was first isolated in Uganda in 1947 and has since caused outbreaks in many parts of the world. It has multiple routes of transmission and may cause acute illness and death if not treated. The Zika virus becomes a major concern if transmitted from mother to fetus as it increases the chance of birth defects and developmental problems to the unborn baby. This article highlights the importance of early diagnosis and describes Zika virus’ transmission, treatment, and prevention.

Your Best Shot At Surviving The Flu Season, Isabella Liu

BU Well

Millions of individuals become ill from the influenza virus every year. As an existing public health issue, it is important for patients to understand that the best way to combat the influenza virus is through prevention. This article explores key aspects of the influenza vaccine and highlights its importance in the healthcare community.

Artificial Organs: Syncardia Heart, Kaity Keesling

BU Well

With an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, heart transplants are on the rise. As a result, the need for donor hearts exceeds current availability. To care for heart failure patients, healthcare professionals have developed the SynCardia total artificial heart. This article explains the artificial heart and its implementation into clinical practice.

Circumventing The Snake Oil: An Analysis Of Cam Cancer Therapies, Chris Zeheralis

BU Well

Since the dawn of recorded human history, humans have searched for ailments to the diseases that plague our everyday lives. However, as each new cure or treatment was discovered, thousands of unsubstantiated and unproven therapies follow behind it. With the advancement of the internet and modern communication, these therapies have found their ways into the minds of consumers. The article highlights three common unproven therapies used by patients, as well as addressing the nuances of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

Take A Hike – No Really, It’S Good For Your Health, Nathan Weller

BU Well

Mental health and its treatment remain prevalent concerns across the United States. As such, the importance of activities that promote mental well-being cannot be understated. One such example includes the use of nature to minimize negative, depressive thoughts while promoting their positive counterparts. This new area of focus, often known as ecotherapy, will be detailed in the following article.

“Put Me In Coach!”: How Pharmacists Can Contribute To Elite Sports, Mel Sturgill

BU Well

Professional and amateur athletes alike often have teams of healthcare professionals that oversee the care of injuries. Among these healthcare professionals, pharmacists have not been included as a member of the care team. Pharmacists are medication experts that can help mitigate medication mistakes and adverse reactions. Additionally, the pharmacist can provide medication information and doping awareness to help athletes reach and maintain their top performance levels in a healthy and safe manner.

An Aching For Affection, Tj Quinlan

BU Well

As humans, we’ve needed companionship from the beginning of time. Therefore, what does a true relationship look like in today’s society? In this world of newly emerging relationships, many people have either experienced, seen, or heard of a toxic relationship. This article dives deep into what makes a toxic relationship, how to notice the red flags, and how to ultimately fix or end it.

Weighing The Effects Of Food Marketing To Children, Serena Panos

BU Well

The marketing tactics used to promote food products in the United States has grown exponentially over recent years. Companies no longer promote products through traditional television commercials alone but utilize their ability to reach consumers through a multitude of modern social media outlets. Because of this, food promotions are all around us. However, the advertising and marketing of food targeted at children and adolescents may not be as harmless as it seems. This article explores why the progressive target marketing of food to children may be a key factor in the rapid growth rate of childhood obesity in the United …